The Great Aroldis Chapman Debate is back again: Starter or closer? Seventy-five innings of sheer dominance and intimidation or 175 of the unknown and unproven?

The Cincinnati Reds are again posed with this question about Chapman, who was set to start last season but out of necessity had to be moved to the bullpen and ultimately closer.

At the end of the bullpen, Chapman was a shutdown closer who struck out 15.3 hitters every nine innings and had a 1.51 ERA and 0.809 WHIP in 71 2/3 innings.

This offseason, the Reds are going to explore other closing options, whether in-house or through free agency.

Jonathan Broxton was traded to the Reds last season and could be brought back as a closer for fairly cheap, as could Ryan Madson, who was signed to close last offseason but missed the entire year because of Tommy John surgery, one of the reasons Chapman had to be taken out of the rotation.

The Reds had a strong rotation last season—fourth in the National League with a 3.64 ERA and second with 1,018 2/3 innings pitched—but its depth was tested in the postseason after Johnny Cueto managed just eight pitches in Game 1 of the NL Division Series and couldn’t pitch again because of an injured oblique.

And because closers can usually be found much more easily than starters, the Reds should try to put Chapman back into the rotation. After all, that was the plan when the team signed the lefthander to a shocking six-year, $30.25 million contract in 2010 after he defected from Cuba.

General manager Walt Jocketty told MLB.com on Monday that the organization hasn’t decided what to do with Chapman, but it is discussing options and the decision really depends on what the team can do with the closer’s job.

It is obvious Chapman could excel as the Reds’ closer, and had he not gotten hurt in September he likely would have received some Cy Young consideration, which he deserved before he had a case of dead arm and had to be shut down for 10 days.

But starters are more valuable to a team’s success, and Chapman has proved he deserves the chance to win a rotation spot despite lacking a consistent third pitch and his durability being in slight question. This offseason, both of those concerns can be addressed, and Chapman will be just 25 years old in February, so there is time to develop him into a front-line arm.

The Reds will have to monitor his innings and pitch counts if they decide to put him in the rotation, and that’s understandable and doable. Chapman was a team player this year, moving to the bullpen without issue when he was needed. But he wants to start, he has earned the opportunity and it should be given to him again.